Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week

Another week dominated by results, notably Marks and Spencers, Associated British Foods and Barry Callebaut. A story that broke late this week and could have severe repercussions is the approval of sweetener stevia for use in the EU. Meanwhile, floods hit food producers in Thailand and the death toll sadly continues to rise in the US listeria outbreak. Click on the headlines for more.

On the money: Food provides M&S' silver liningA rise in food sales was the silver lining in Marks and Spencer's first-half results. Chief executive Marc Bolland pointed out how it has managed to maintain market share at a time when all of its supermarket competitors have been in a "race for space".

Sustainability Watch - local sourcingIn the second part of this Sustainability Watch, Ben Cooper discusses the local sourcing challenge with Bob Gordon, head of environment at the British Retail Consortium.

US: Cantaloupe listeria death toll risesThe total number of people who have died from the cantaloupe listeria outbreak in the US has reached 29, making it the largest food-borne outbreak in US history.

Last week started with a bang, when on Monday morning (23 April) Nestle announced that it had beaten off competition from the likes of Danone to secure the baby food business of US pharmaceuticals gro...